Taliauli to make first start for Brumbies against Waratahs

The Brumbies have included winger Lausii Taliauli and prop Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin in their Super rugby team to play the Waratahs at in Canberra on Friday.

The pair will be making their first starts of the 2019 season in the Dan Vickerman Cup which is a trophy presented to the winner of the games between the pair during the campaign, with the Brumbies aiming for a repeat of their last home match when the Chiefs were put to the sword in stunning fashion.

There’s also an opportunity for two local Academy products to make their Brumbies debut, with the Gungahlin Eagles duo of Tom Ross and Mack Hansen named in the matchday twenty-three for the first time.

Leuluaialii-Makin slots into the front-row in place of the injured Allan Alaalatoa, having played all four games this season from the replacements bench, and will bring his indomitable scrummaging skills to a trio of forwards who have been in exceptional form.

Scott Sio is the other bookend, propping hooker Folau Fainga’a who crossed for his fourth try in successive matches against the Rebels, equalling a club record held by six other players, all backs. Rory Arnold and Sam Carter continue in the second row with Lachlan McCaffrey restored to the backrow alongside Tom Cusack and Rob Valetini.

Behind the pack, Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano form the halfback partnership once more with Taliauli on the left wing forming an attacking trident alongside right wing Henry Speight and the hard-running fullback Tom Banks.

With Irae Simone, returning from a rib injury, and Tevita Kuridrani in the middle, the Brumbies will be looking to continue their try-scoring form.

With eighteen tries to their name already in 2019, the Australians are the second highest try-scorers in the Super Rugby competition behind the Crusaders and have been particularly effective up front with the trademark rolling maul accounting for seven of those scores.